Electrify America today announced the concept of a new charging station. This includes updating the actual charger with better display and cable management, as well as updating the station itself with a solar canopy and more equipment.
With 731 charging stations and over 3,000 quick chargers, Electrify America is rapidly becoming an important part of the US EV infrastructure.
It is becoming a reliable charging partner for many automakers looking to launch new EVs on the market.
Electrify America learned a lot after operating the network for several years. Currently, Electrify America is announcing improvements to a service that is now called the “Future Charging Station.”
The actual charger has an upgraded screen that is easier to see with different lighting and a better cable management system.
But the bigger change is in the station itself, which has a solar canopy, a waiting area, and other equipment depending on the location.
Giovanni Palazzo, President and CEO of Electrify America, commented on the announcement:
“Electrify America has redesigned the look and feel of many charging stations to meet and exceed the expectations of customers migrating from gasoline to electric vehicles. These new designs are ultra-fast and reliable. Building on a high coast-to-shore network, we can help improve your charging experience. “
The company plans to showcase these new features in 2022 and 2023 at Select New Flagship Charging Facilities in Manhattan and Brooklyn in Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Diego, Beverly Hills, California, and New York. ..
The main direct changes from Electrify America are:
Customer-centric charging experience
With some of the new showcase stations with up to 20 ultra-fast DC chargers, the company is trying to add many options in different locations, including:
- Customer lounge, electric car showcase area, dedicated event space
- Overhead solar canopy to protect customers from the sun and bad weather
- Onsite security cameras and additional lighting
- Charging stations at some shopping locations may offer clerk charging and curbside delivery options.
Solar awning
Electrify America is currently adding solar awnings to 400-500 individual chargers at 100 charging stations nationwide. In addition to providing shelter from the sun and weather elements, the energy captured by the sunshade is used to help power the operation of the station.
The company has already installed solar canopies at its flagship charging stations in Baker, California and Santa Clara. The solar energy from these solar canopies is also sent to the on-site battery energy storage system to obtain energy useful for charging electric vehicles.
Next generation charger
Electrify America will also begin rolling out redesigned electric vehicle chargers with functional and design features to simplify the customer experience. With charging power of up to 150 kW and 350 kW, the ultra-fast charger maintains the iconic green glow of Electrify America, which customers have become aware of and accept, and is easily recognizable at a height of 8 feet. Maintain the state. Next-generation chargers also have the following features:
- A completely new design that refines the appearance and reduces the footprint of the charger
- A bright, recessed HMI (Human Machine Interface) screen reduces glare from sunlight and makes it easy for customers to see operating procedures and charging progress.
- A single connector cable with a brand new cable management system to save you the hassle of plugging in cables wherever the charging port is on your EV
- By reducing the footprint of both the charger and the power cabinet, more equipment can be installed in space-constrained urban areas.
Introducing over 150 on-site battery energy systems
The company’s new charging station design vision focuses on combining the latest innovations with a true customer-centric experience. The new station design integrates energy and cost-saving technologies to help improve efficiency and make the charging experience simpler, faster and more comfortable than ever before. By expanding the deployment of the Onsite Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to more than 150 stations, the company has made previous investments to manage the energy load on the grid and capture excess solar energy where possible. Continue to build.
“The momentum to bring us closer to electric transportation systems is accelerating as consumers find more and more EV options from virtually every manufacturer,” Palazzo said. “Our customer survey shows that we need to move the human experience in the waiting room and other convenient locations to a more attractive and acceptable charging experience.”
FTC: We use affiliate links for earning cars. more.
Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube to get exclusive videos and subscribe to podcasts.